Eight critics entered the ring on Saturday night at Arlington Arts Center, and only one exited. Okay, so AAC’s “Critique the Critics” fundraiser was more of a friendly competition than bloodsport, but the evening didn’t end without some folks getting their hands dirty. It’s just that it happened to be with finger paints.

In an interview published in Whole Earth Review back in the summer of 1989, acclaimed science fiction and cyberpunk author William Gibson (who we caught up with last week during his U.S. book tour) commented regarding his work: “The world we live in is so hopelessly weird and complex that in order to come to terms with it, you need the tools that science fiction develops.” Or, often enough, it is visual art that frames our complexities and provides the tools, as with the work in Fall Solos 2010, on display at the Arlington Art Center through November 7.

Written by DCist contributor Matt Smith

While not every curator is an artist, every artist is a curator, or at least every artist wishes she were one, if only briefly. Art Scouts,” at the Arlington Arts Center through August 21, engages six highly accomplished artists with local ties (Zoe Charlton, Mary Early, J.J. McCracken, Maggie Michael, Jefferson Pinder, and Kerry Skarbakka) and asks them to select works by other artists who they feel inform their own art-making process. The artists-as-curators represent six distinct disciplines and their selections are at times a neat reflection of the media in which they work, and at other times a more specific sample of styles similar to their own. The resulting show is an invigorating survey of 28 artists that makes excellent use of the extensive exhibition space at the AAC, including seven of the nine galleries across two stories.

Faith Ringgold’s Who’s Bad? , courtesy the Arlington Arts Center This week, some of the D.C. area’s best nonprofit and alternative art spaces push their boundaries in ways that commercial spaces often don’t. Get out your thinking caps and your love for interesting discussion, and mark these dates, times and locations in that day planner of yours. >> Friday from 7 to 9 p.m., the DC Arts Center holds a reception for its newest…

Whether you’re an art school grad looking to get back into figure drawing, a practicing artist needing reference for your next figure-based series, or you just want to do some sketching, open figure drawing sessions are a low cost, low commitment option for artmaking. Below, we’ve compiled a list of open figure drawing sessions in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Bring your own drawing supplies, and be aware that many groups are in small settings, so…

The big news this week came on Tuesday, as the Washington Project for the Arts announced it was officially splitting from the Corcoran Gallery of Art at the end of 2007. The success of the partnership has boosted the WPA to a place where they can function solo once more, and are currently setting up shop in Dupont Circle. The Post has an excellent summary of WPAC’s history. >> The Arlington Arts Center is our…

THURSDAY: >> Flashpoint puts a little twist on the gallery show with Anonymous III by WPAC. The show will feature 100 works by established and emerging artists from the D.C. area, but every piece will remain anonymous until it’s purchased by an art lover who will have to appreciate quality over a name brand. The gallery will hold a reception this evening to scope out the goods, but you won’t be able to purchase anything…

After the whirlwind of April arts events, May looks to be a little quieter, perhaps even serene at times. Though if you’re looking for a party, we’ve got the info for this week’s Artomatic events, which is only just past its halfway point. >> Ever dream of being one of those madly rich people with original Van Goghs or Kandinskys in your climate controlled, wood paneled library (in the east wing)? Bring your envious eyes…

Driving by Arlington Arts Center, it’s easy to think they have succumbed to a unique prank. Approximately 100 poles are scattered across the front lawn, stuck in the ground like plastic forks, a toy rests atop each pole. This piece, Cory Wagner’s Give/Take, engages the audience with items for trade. Some visitors have simply taken. Others have given a plastic spoon, a watered down ounce of milkshake, two weather-soiled cigarettes, two dandelions, two cents, and…

Ah, a town bursting at the seams with art — just as it should be. The weekend approaches us with no excuse to stay home; in fact, you might want to finally figure out that “be in two places at the same time” trick you’ve been meaning to master. Take a deep breath: Go. Thursday: >> Warm up for the weekend at the Arlington Arts Center, where Virginia’s Poet Laureate, Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda, will give a…